To start the month of October, Pope Francis summoned leaders of various world religions to Rome to call for world peace.
POPE FRANCIS
'More vaccines distributed equitably and fewer weapons sold indiscriminately.'
The Pope had a tight schedule filled with political meetings throughout the month. He met with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel to say goodbye prior to her retirement.
-“Arrivederci.”
As well as with the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
-'I'll display this with great pride in the speaker's office in the Capitol.'
The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi visited Pope Francis for the first time and invited him to visit India.
And the South Korean president gave him a cross made from the barbed wire of a fence which borders North Korea.
His most significant meeting was with Joe Biden, the second Catholic president of the United States. Their friendly meeting lasted over an hour.
-'You are the most significant warrior for peace I've ever met.'
Before his visit, a number of bishops in the United States said that Biden cannot receive Communion because he supports policies which allow abortion. The president said he briefly discussed the matter with the Pope.
-“We just talked about the fact he was happy that I was a good Catholic and I should keep receiving communion.”
October saw the Pope kick off the first preparatory phase of the upcoming synod, addressing the role which each baptized Catholic plays in governing the Church. It will gather input from the local Church before the final assembly in Rome in 2023.
POPE FRANCIS
'...to promote a real involvement of each and every one.'
The Pope's new master of ceremonies, Diego Ravelli, began in his role in October. He takes over for Guido Marini, whom Pope Francis ordained a bishop and sent to the diocese of Tortona, near Genoa.
In early October the Pope was able to greet Sister Gloria Cecilia Narvaez. The Colombian nun had just been released after being held captive by a group associated with Al-Qaeda for 4 years and 8 months in Mali.
An independent report from France was released in October. It revealed that between 1950 and 2020 some 216,000 minors were abused in Church institutions throughout the country.
POPE FRANCIS
“I would like to express to the victims my sadness and pain for the trauma they have suffered. And also my shame.”
The report also pointed out areas of hope. It highlighted that since 2010, strong measures have been put in place to address the issue of abuse.
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